Today's News

Gov. Terry McAuliffe signed a bill Feb. 24 that halts the state’s ability to review and adjust base electricity rates for utilities in Virginia while keeping rates frozen.

The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Frank Wagner, R-Virginia Beach, ends the State Corporation Commission’s ability during the five-year period to determine whether energy giants such as Appalachian Power and Dominion Power earned more than a fair profit and to order refunds to consumers.

HILLSVILLE –– After being able to squeeze in a conference quarterfinal game Monday between salvos from Mother Nature, the hopes in Galax were that the Maroon Tide girls would have a little more polish to their game than Fort Chiswell, which hadn’t played a game in nearly two weeks.

The Pioneers may wish to consider scheduling a 13-day break in the regular season now and then if Wednesday was of any indication.

HILLSVILLE –– For a team so adept at knocking down the 3-pointer, Galax is remarkably competent at not needing to live or die by it.

The Maroon Tide repeatedly caught a chasing Fort Chiswell defense out of position and scored at will in the paint Wednesday, putting that together with an overwhelming defensive effort, all leading to a dominant 53-25 win over the Pioneers in the semifinals of the oft-delayed Conference 46 tournament at Carroll County High School.

ROANOKE – Appalachian Power Company (APCO) announced Thursday that residential customers in Virginia will see a decrease of about 4 percent in their total electric bills beginning this month. The decrease is the result of the reduction or expiration of three Rate Adjustment Clauses (RACs).

RICHMOND - Since midnight Tuesday, Virginia State Police troopers and dispatchers statewide have fielded 801 calls for service statewide.

During the period statewide, Virginia troopers responded to 238 traffic crashes and 191 disabled vehicles. The majority of the crashes involved damaged vehicles only. There have no reported traffic fatalities.

Between midnight and 8 a.m. on Tuesday, the VSP Division IV office in Wytheville — which covers Galax, Carroll and Grayson — answered 78 total calls for service, including 15 crashes and 33 disabled vehicles.